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Synonyms

touching

American  
[tuhch-ing] / ˈtʌtʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. affecting; moving; pathetic.

    a touching scene of farewell.
    Synonyms:
    piteous, poignant, stirring

  2. that touches.

    Synonyms:
    tangent

preposition

  1. in reference or relation to; concerning; about.

    He wrote touching future plans.
touching British  
/ ˈtʌtʃɪŋ /

adjective

  1. evoking or eliciting tender feelings

    your sympathy is touching
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

preposition

  1. on the subject of; relating to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • touchingly adverb
  • touchingness noun
  • untouching adjective

Etymology

Origin of touching

First recorded in 1250–1300; touch + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Death of the Last Cowhand” here is a touching poem by rancher Linda Hasselstrom memorializing the last days of a nonagenarian cowboy who literally died with his boots on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Healthcare unemployment has crept up since touching an all-time low in 2022.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

March now has a six-month losing streak but is touching the line once again and notice it filled the gap from last April.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Videos on TikTok appear to show visitors standing and filming within touching distance of the animals.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Emma grabs the Maldives postcard and sticks her nose so close to the picture that it’s practically touching.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.